Regular compressor servicing makes cents

History has proven that adequately maintained equipment becomes a tool in reducing costs, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

According to Champion Compressors, there is a disturbing trend towards offering seemingly attractive air packages by extending servicing periods.

Contracts recommending 3000-hour intervals between services are not uncommon, and customers should be aware of the countless hidden costs.

While at surface value, 3000-hour services may make an attractive offer, delayed maintenance checks make machinery susceptible to increased power consumption and reduced life cycles.

Champion Compressors cites the check-up of a 15kW compressor, which after 1500 hours of operation reveals a clogged oil filter worth an estimated $50.

If left unattended for a supplementary 1500 hours, the clogged filter will cause an increase in energy needs to compress the oil through the channel.

Should the oil ultimately be forced to bypass the filter altogether, unfiltered oil will deposit dirt and foreign material directly onto the bearings, coolers and oil separator.

The greater restriction in the oil separator could equate to a $100 increase in power costs over the period. This could also lead to the need for an air-end overhaul priced at around $2000 for a compressor of this rating--not to mention the costs associated with downtime.

In a similar case, an undetected blocked air inlet left for a 3000-hour period will cause a pressured drop of 12 to 13kPa, equivalent to a $270 increase in power costs over 1500 hours. Again, this could shorten the life of the rotary screw air-end.

Clearly, compressors, just like cars, require regular servicing.

When considering an air package, Champion Compressors says the decision should be made based on lifetime costs, not merely the compressor's purchase price and basic service cost - which represent only three to four percent of the total.